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Ukraine win four gold medals at the Danube Belt Youth Tournament

The recent Danube Belt Youth Tournament was used as a preparation event in Romania for the upcoming EUBC European Youth Continental Championships, which will be held later this year.

Bout of the finals

Germany’s Peter Kadiru has earned gold medals from both the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games and the EUBC European Youth Continental Championships, so he entered the Danube Belt Youth Tournament with great confidence.

The 18-year-old German boxer engaged in a very exciting Super Heavyweight (+91 kg) final with Croatia’s two-time Youth National Champion Miljan Lakovic who is also a great prospect.

Kadiru was more efficient in his attacks, and his excellent stamina saw him control the contest despite the high quality of his opponent.

Although both athletes produced much to admire across each round, it was Kadiru’s hand which was raised after the final bell as he earned Germany’s lone gold medal in Tulcea.

Team of the event

Ukraine secured four gold medals in the Danube Belt Youth Tournament, beginning with a win for their Youth National Champion Serhiy Chayka who beat Romania’s Albert Calota at Welterweight (69 kg).

2013 AIBA Junior World Boxing Championships and Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games gold medalist Ramil Gadzhyiev continued his dominance of the Middleweight (75 kg) division with an excellent final win over Moldova’s Dumitru Gumen.

Ukraine’s AIBA Junior World Champion Robert Marton won the fourth gold medal for his country at Heavyweight (91 kg), when he outpointed Croatia’s talented Luka Pratlijacic in their final.

Surprise of the event

Croatia’s Filip Poturovic was not expected to reach the finals in Tulcea, but took the competition by storm as he won the gold medal of the Bantamweight class (56 kg).

The 18-year-old edged a narrow final over Romania’s EUBC European Junior Continental Championships bronze medallist Robert Jitaru, and his split decision victory is undoubtedly the highlight of his career so far.

One to watch

Hungary’s Richard Kovacs won a silver medallist in March’s Danas Pozniakas Youth Memorial Tournament, and he went one better in Romania by claiming Lightweight (60 kg) gold.

The 18-year-old has been a member of the Hungarian national team in various age groups since 2012, and had enough experience to beat Ukraine’s Pavlo Kuzmenchuk in a close battle.

Fact of the event

49 talented boxers took part in the Danube Belt Youth Tournament, and all produced an outstanding level of boxing.